John William Witt
in the 1911 census he s a farm waggoner, he was a woodman upon his enlistment.
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John William Witt was born in 1888 at Cawthorpe, Lincolnshire, he was the son of John Witt a farm cowman and Mary Jane Witt née Jordan of Bollingbrook, Lincolnshrie.
His father John was born in 1855 at Fordingbridge, Hampshire, his mother Mary Jane Jordan was born in 1862 at Carlton Scroop, Lincolnshire, they were married in 1882 at South Stoke, Linconshire, they went on to have 6 children.
In the 1911 census the family are living Brant Broughton near Newark John Whitt 63 yrs is a cowman on a farm, he is living with his wife Mary 49 yrs and their children, Charlottte 28 yrs no occupation listed, Joe 26 yrs a farm labourer, Minnie 19 yrs a domestic servant, Pamella 15 yrs, Mabel 13 yrs a scholar.
In the same 1911 census we find that John William has left the family home, he is boarding at Burrows farmstead, Leadenham Heath, Lincoln, he is 23 yrs of age and is a farm waggoner, he is boarding with Henry Chambers 57 yrs a farm foreman and his family.
John William married Gertrude Welbourne (born 24th March 1892) on 2oth July 1916 they were married in Newark, they had a daughter Joan Mary Witt born 3rd March 1917, they lived at Stapleford, near Newark.
Commencing 2nd July 1917 his widow was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and nine pence a week.
His widow later remarried to become Gertrude Thurman, she later lived at 29 Malton Street, Selby, Yorkshire.
Private John William Witt attested on 26th February 1916 at Newark, giving his age as 28 yrs and 62 days, he was a woodman, his next of kin was his father John, he was posted to the reserves and mobilised for war on 11th April 1916 at Lincoln, he was posted to the 2nd battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He landed in France on 24th July 1916, and was reported missing later confoirmed as killed in action on 23rd October 1916, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
additional research and information Peter Gillings
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